Studies on the Fringe of Christianity
From the contents, it appears evident that the unsigned letter to the Hebrews was written for Christians who were being persecuted for their faith. Most scholars agree that this letter is specifically directed to the newest Jewish converts who may have been having second thoughts, because of persecution. These Jewish Christians were losing enthusiasm in …
I am often asked by new Christians, “How should I go about studying the Bible?” Many pastors will just say come join one of their Bible study groups, and this is usually good advice, because there will be several people available to help newcomers get started or even take them “under their wing” as the …
Do you believe in ghosts? According to the Huffington Post, nearly half of Americans do. A HuffPost poll “shows that 45 percent of Americans believe in ghosts, or that the spirits of dead people can come back in certain places and situations.”1 In the U.K., 52 percent of respondents indicated that they believed in ghosts, …
Recently, someone asked me to explain why God cursed women with a monthly period. She was referring to women’s menstruation, including a possible combination of symptoms about a week or so before the actual flow of blood. This premenstrual assortment of problems, called premenstrual syndrome (PMS), can include such effects as bloating, headaches, and moodiness, …
All of the pastors that I’ve ever heard giving a sermon on Genesis chapter 6, started with Genesis 6:5. When I asked why they skipped the first four verses, I usually got one of three answers: (1) “they aren’t important to the story,” (2) “they are too complicated for the congregation to understand,” or (3) …
The story of Jesus writing in the dust has always had a bit of mystery associated with it, because nowhere in the Bible does it state exactly what he wrote. We do know what it was about, so there have been many suggestions, both reasonable and unreasonable, as to his exact communication on that day. …
On our front door at home are three decals. One says Christians Unite – Luke 22:36, another indicates our National Rifle Association support, and finally, one that supports the agenda of the Three Percenters1 (see reference for intriguing details, especially for our British readers). Those public displays indicate that the residents of this home believe …
Fall has arrived, as I write this, and the once-bright green leaves on trees are beginning to change into a variety of brilliant colors. Before long, the city streets and rural highways will be lined with many shades of splendid yellows, oranges, reds, and browns. For me, Fall always seems to come and go at …
The dog isn’t referenced in the Bible in a very good way, as there are more than fifty verses describing dogs in a negative manner. That attitude goes for all canines: jackals, wolves, hyenas, etc. To the Hebrew people, canines were created to serve a particular purpose in God’s plan — they are the scavengers …
I’ve been thinking about an article I recently read of how Christian churches are bending over backward to make their services happy events. By “happy events” I mean making sure their service makes you comfortable, making sure they never offend you, making sure they give the appearance of projecting their love into the congregation. It …